Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-07-23
Indian Riders.

GREAT FEATs IN HoRsEMANsHIP SCENES IN AN IN
DIAN CAMP
Gen. Jas 8. Brisbin in the Omaha Republican.
When we last parted company with the readers
OF the Republican we were in the Indian camp of
the Arapahoe chief, Friday. Here saw many
| curious scenes and learned much OF Indian lfe
One day Friday said to me he would like to show
Oh his young men and let me see how we'll they
the whole herd of ponies were still In the hands of
the troops The old chief, however was so earnest
anu apparently honest about it, told the captain,
who had the herd In charge, he might let Friday
nave % ponies for his young men. In about an
hOur they drew up before the tents in war paint
eow and as haas az FINE Looking sf Of
one but was feet in height and beautifully
proportloned They sat their horses like centaurs
ana were ease and grace itself In the saddle At
signal from the chief they began their movements
with a yen that sent the blood curdling to the
night time, to make ones hair stand on end. In
moment they had disappeared over a neighboring
NH to the right, and thought they had gone but
nearing mighty trampling OF horses looked to
my left and there they came. l can compare It to
nothing but the wind, and they swept by so swift
and compact that they looked like bali of horses
and men. Splitting in two, one body swept to the
right and another TO the left and again dis
about oth Two IN INIT ,n ae two
waited almost breathlessly for the shock,
but as the horses heads almost touched each
left and the lines passed through the intervals
without touching. Wheeling to the right-abOut
tney passed Dack In an instant ana again dlSap-
peared over the hills. 1t about fifteen min
utes before they came in sight, and Friday in
formed me they were blowing their horses Pre-
Sently on they came and wheeled by fOurS, formed
columns, broke by fOurS and finally deplOyed as
sk1rmishers. 1t was now we saw the finest In
d1v1dual hOrSemanShip. Some would approach
lying so close to the ponyS back nothing but the
horses could be seen. Others stood up and rode
as circus men do Some would hang with one
foot and one hand on the horses and sweep by,
their bodies completely protected by the bodies OF
The animals. Some leaped upon the ground
holding to the name OF the horse and after
on the backs of the horses again as easily any
circus man could do It, The positions they as
Sumed and the featS OF craftsmanship which
they performed were Incredible and l doubt II
anything outside OF a circus ring ever equaled
It, They would throw objects on the ground and
pick them up again while passing at full speed,
with one foot and one hand They drew bows
and shot arrows from underneath the neckS
and even bellies or their horses while riding at
last gallop. Our cavalry could not learn to ride
trained for twenty years. They exchanged horses
while riding and got behind each other One
man would fall OF his horse as IL wounded, and
two others would ride up beside him, and taking
their horses and carry him off. The exhibition, or
drill as Friday called 1t, lasted nearly two hours,
and the men and horses were completely ex-
hausted. 1 had never seen such magnificent featS
OF Craftsmanship in my life, and freely said so.
At this Friday was much pleased, and, calling up
the young men, repeated to them in a loud voice
what had said, and added a few words OF his
own, cOmpment1ng them. The young men were
very proud OF the manner in which they had &C
quilted themselves and could imagine the feel
1ngS OF their parents and sweethearts. The per-
hardly able to stand after their violent exercise,
and all evening saw them lying in the lodges,
where the Indian women brought them food and
water, bathed their hands, arms and limbs, and